By Meena Sreenivasan

"IF it was not for a mosquito, I would have died by now," says Low Hin Kong.

What happened to him is not only true, but it actually saved his life.

In April, a shocked Low discovered that he had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer, when he was admitted to the hospital for dengue fever.

From blood tests, his liver function was found to be abnormal, and upon further investigation he was diagnosed with HCC Stage 3 and given just six months to live. A year before he was diagnosed with the disease, he had diabetes, and like any diabetic, suspected his weight loss was due to his strict diet. "Every morning I would prick my finger to monitor my sugar level and I was literally starving myself.

So, when I lost weight, it was only natural for me to assume that it was because I was eating less," says the 54-year-old. Low had no cancer symptoms or pain to indicate he had liver disease.

He didn't feel sick.

"After I was diagnosed, my doctor sat me and my wife down and spilled the beans.

"I received the news numbed.

"At that point, my mind was blank.

"All I thought about was what questions to ask the doctor."

He remembers asking the doctor: "If I don't seek treatment, how long will I live? His reply was, 'You are in Stage 3 and you have six months to live if you don't go for treatment'. "I remained calm and looked at my wife.

She was devastated.

"I thought to myself if this was a joke because if I had cancer, how did I get liver cancer? I hadn't touched beer in the last 15 years.

Wasn't it more likely for me to get lung cancer because of my smoking? These questions were racing through my mind.

"If I had not gone through the blood tests for dengue fever, I would never have known because no symptoms showed up.

"I would have just carried on with life until I dropped dead.

"Can you believe that a mosquito actually saved my life?"

While the clock ticked on, all Low could think about was his youngest daughter who was studying in Australia.

"She's in her second semester doing her first year in actuarial science in Melbourne.

"She had another year-and-a-half for her graduation and I wanted to live long enough to see that.

"I wanted to live for at least another year.

"My daughters are my babies, no matter what their age.

"Even on my busiest days at work, I recall picking them up from school every day, without fail.

"I didn't want anyone doing it except me.

"I'm especially close to my youngest daughter," he says.

When Low's youngest daughter came home for her holiday break, he had no intentions of telling her, but he had no choice.

"She knew something was wrong the minute she saw me at the airport.

"I didn't want her to know of my illness until she graduated, but she saw that my hair had thinned considerably and that I had no eyelashes.

"She kept questioning me and wanted to know what was wrong with me.

"I had to break the news to her."

Low decided to go for treatment and was prescribed sorafenib by his oncologist.

He started treatment in May. "I was apprehensive about the cost of the treatment initially, but these concerns were soon laid to rest when my doctor told me about the Malaysian Liver Foundation's NexPAP patient assistance programme. He said it would help ease the financial burden and give me hope."

Although he experienced a severe hand and foot skin reaction, a known possible side effect of the treatment, he felt it was a small matter when compared with the chance to prolong his life.

He saw a decrease in his tumour markers and alpha protein level.

"During the first two weeks of my medication, I had very bad sores and blisters on my feet, palms and fingers. I had terrible hair loss and rashes on my face.

"I couldn't even walk a step or wash my own cup.

"My wife had to do everything for me.

"She would place everything on the table before she left for work.

"I was very depressed, but I still continued with my medication.

"After a month, I went for another blood test to check my cancer markers and it showed considerable improvement.

"I am still on medication, although it's a smaller dosage on alternate days now. The side effects are lessening with time.

"At least now I can drive and get myself something to eat," he says positively. "I know I am the sick one, but my wife is suffering as much as me.

"She is the silent sufferer.

"She has been coping so well and is always there for me, encouraging me and ever so supportive.

"I don't know what I would have done without her.

"I must confess I never used to believe in celebrations like wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or any other special occasion.

"All meant nothing to me.

"But all that has changed now, and all I want to do now is to concentrate on my life, show my wife how much I love her, make her happy and share whatever time I have left with her and my family.

"I have been a good father, but I don't know if I have been a good husband.

"I want to be able to make up to my wife for the time lost. It's payback time.

"These days, I spend most of my time reading and I know I have to, within the next few years (that too if I have that much time), show my appreciation to my wife."

Last week, Low went for yet another blood test, and despite his reduced dosage, his marker increased by one point.

He believes it is great, considering the dosage. "When we received the call from the doctor to inform us about the results, we were so afraid, but hopefully the results are working for me.

"I am hopeful of a longer lease of life."

Low is grateful that he had the chance to take advantage of the effective treatment for liver cancer, and for the NexPAP patient assistance programme.

"I enjoy a significantly better quality of life with the treatment and am able to continue receiving it without over-burdening myself financially."